April 13, 2022

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Mark Your Calendars!

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Happy Assistant Principals' Week!

Thank you Ms. Hacopian and Ms. Bard for all that you do for the students, parents, faculty, and staff at Bush Elementary!

Family Picnic - Tomorrow

The family picnic is tomorrow, Thursday, April 14. On Monday, every student received 2 colored wristbands for 2 family members to join him/her at the family picnic. Every person (including babies/toddlers) entering the grounds must have a colored wristband on their wrist to enter or on their stroller/seat carrier.


There are only 2 entrance locations for the picnic. PK, K, Greco, and Busse's parents will enter via the fire lane gate next to the primary playground by the carpool lane and visitor's parking lot. Grades 1 -5 parents will enter via the track/field gates at the end of the bus lane. For the safety and knowledge of who is on campus, only people with the colored wristband on will be allowed to enter the family picnic. Please reference the map you received on Monday to see where your child's grade level will be seated for the picnic.


Family Picnic Lunch Times:

PK, K, Busse, & Greco – 11:15 – 12:15

Gr. 1 – 5 – 11:25 – 12:25


All the neighboring restaurants will be busy and parking around Bush will be difficult, so please plan ahead. Parents should bring a towel/blanket/chair to sit on and your lunch. If students don't bring a lunch, then they will receive a sack lunch from the cafeteria. Lunches will not be available for parents to purchase.


If you have children in multiple grades and you would like to eat as a family, plan to have lunch with your younger child’s class and notify the older child’s teacher to send the student to the younger child’s picnic location at the picnic time.


Do not lose the wristbands as these must be on to enter the school grounds to attend the picnic. Also, additional wristbands are not available.


Please make sure you send your child with a beach towel to sit on as the ground is damp from recent rains. If you're planning to attend, please bring a beach towel, blanket, or chair to sit on.


Rain isn't forecast for Thursday. However, in the event of rain on Thursday, the Family Picnic will be canceled via a School Messenger email message on Thursday morning.

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL

Saturday, May 7, 2022

11 am- 2 pm

Wristbands required for entry


Bush Elementary School will celebrate 30 years of excellence by showcasing our school's amazing diversity through family-friendly activities, presentations, and foods highlighting more than 21 different countries. Activities such as regional crafts, cultural games, and general festival entertainment will be included with your admission. Other activities including concessions, rock wall, and a train ride can be purchased separately. This event is open to the public.


All persons ages 3 and up will need a wristband for entry. Order your wristbands, tickets and T-Shirts online to receive a discount! Pre-sale discounts are only available online through May 4th, 2022. Find wristbands, tickets and shirts for purchase here.


Tickets - Buy 10. get 1 free online

Face painting, train rides, the rock wall and selected foods and activities will cost 1-5 tickets.


Saturday, April 16th is the last day to buy a Festival T-Shirt. Students will be able to wear t-shirts as a part of BBE dress code; adult t- shirts are also available for purchase.

Want to volunteer for a shift at the Festival?


We can’t have this event without the help of volunteers! If you’d like to help at the International Festival, please sign up for a 1.5 hour shift. Any parent or guardian is welcome to volunteer at the festival. You will receive a concessions voucher as a “thank you” for volunteering! VOLUNTEER HERE

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Spring Holiday - No School

Friday, April 15 is a Spring Holiday. Enjoy your 3 day weekend!

Houston Dynamo - Diesel's Reader Program

​The HISD Community Partnerships Department has partnered with the Houston Dynamo to launch the Diesel's Readers Program for elementary and middle school students. This free program encourages kids to read 5 books during the month of April for the chance to win free tickets to a Houston Dynamo or Dash game



Program Details:

Diesel's Readers is a four-week program that encourages students to read five age-appropriate books approved by their librarian or parent/guardian. Once all five books are read, a parent/guardian will complete a registration form online to document their student's participation in the program. Each participating student will receive a certificate of completion via email on Monday, May 2nd. This certificate contains a QR Code where the student and parents can redeem their free ticket! Diesel's Readers begins Friday, April 1st, and ends Saturday, April 30th.


The top three schools with the most books read will receive an additional prize. The winners will be announced on Wednesday, May 4th.


Website – https://www.houstondynamofc.com/community/reading

Registration - https://houstondynamo.formstack.com/forms/reading

Counselor's Corner

Hello Bush Families,

Please take the time to visit our Bush Counselor’s Corner monthly. I add social emotional learning items, as well as current topics of interest for our families and students. For example, this month we have resources that will support our students who struggle with test anxiety. As a reminder, hover over items on the page to find links to great resources! Thank you for your consistent support at home.

We appreciate all that you do.

Ms. Quinonez

2022-2023 Registration Dates

Please follow the registration directions shown below and not the online version shown by HISD on the website.


Intent to Re-Enroll – Currently Enrolled Students - Due Tomorrow

April 4 – 14

Information was sent home with zoned PK - 4th grade students on Monday, April 4 and the completed form with necessary documentation is due back by April 14.


Kindergarten Siblings of Currently Enrolled Students

Registration Dates: April 20 – 26

7:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m. or 12:00 p.m. - 2:15 p.m.

In-person at Bush Elementary

Parents of currently enrolled students who have an incoming kindergarten student for 22-23, to register your kindergartener, please bring: parent's government issued photo identification, proof of residency, birth certificate, and immunizations to the office to complete the registration packet for their incoming kindergarten student.

ONLY FOR INCOMING K SIBLINGS OF CURRENTLY ENROLLED BUSH STUDENTS


New Zoned Kindergarten Students (No Sibling at Bush)

Registration Dates: May 3, 4, 5, or 6 (Only 30 applicants per day can be processed)

In-person at Bush Elementary

Please bring the items on the attached check list.

8:30 – 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

No need to arrive early as we have 4 days to register during the registration times shown.


2022-2023 Registration Checklist


New Zoned Kindergarten Students - Additional Dates

May 24, 25, or 26 (Only 30 applicants per day can be processed)

In-person at Bush Elementary

Please bring the items on the attached check list.

8:30 – 11:00 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.

No need to arrive early as we have 3 days to register during the registration times shown.


New Zoned Gr. 1 – 5 Students

Registration Dates: June 8, 9, or 10 (Only 30 applicants per day can be processed)

In-person at Bush Elementary

Please bring the items on the attached check list.

Must have report card showing successful completion of the 2021 – 2022 school year.

8:30 – 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 – 3:00 p.m.

No need to arrive early as we have 3 days to register during the registration times shown.


More dates will be published at a later time.

Free COVID PCR Testing Every Thursday

Bush Elementary will have COVID testing available every Thursday for students, faculty, and staff. Parents must pre-register their child by 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday in order to be tested on campus. This testing is completely voluntary and free, it does require the student's parent/guardian to first provide a one-time digital consent at https://bit.ly/HISDC19Test .


Once a parent has registered their child, then the child will be tested each time Fulgent comes to campus to provide COVID testing. If you no longer want your child to be tested, you may opt out by emailing your child's teacher to let them know.

Nurse Guider's Corner

COVID-19 vaccines are now available for children ages 5-11. If you choose to vaccinate your child, please email a copy of the vaccination record card to dguider@houstonisd.org or send documentation to Nurse Guider so she can update your child's immunization record. This also includes students who are double vaccinated. Please send a copy to the nurse or email her with the updated documents.


If your child does test positive for COVID, then he/she must quarantine for at least 5 days regardless of vaccination status. If your child is COVID positive and showing symptoms, then he/she must stay home at least 5 days and until symptom free.

Handbook Highlights

Throughout the school year, this section of the newsletter will highlight key points from the Bush Parent Handbook. With the weather warming up, please make sure your child is bringing the correct jack colors. Jackets that are worn inside the building must be solid navy, red, or white.

Dress Code Reminders

Here are some quick reminders about our Bush Elementary dress code. Shirts must be solid colored red, white, or navy. The only t-shirts allowed are Bush Elementary t-shirts. Dress code pants are navy, khaki, or blue jeans. The pants must not have any holes, rips, tears, or designs on them, just simple plain blue jeans, navy pants, or khaki pants. Exercise pants, sweatpants, and yoga pants are NOT part of the Bush dress code. Leggings can not be worn as pants, only under skirts or jumpers. Please click on the link below for the complete dress code guidelines.


2021-2022 Dress Code Guidelines

Morning Arrival Reminders

Morning supervision of students starts at 7:20 a.m. At that time students are brought into the building and are seated in grade level lines. Morning bus lane drop off is reserved for our 5th Grade Safety Patrols, our daycare vans, and our students in our self-contained special education classes. These families have a special printed pass to enter the bus lane for morning drop off. All other students arriving by car must be dropped off in the carpool lane. The first bell rings at 7:30 a.m. and the students are tardy at 7:40 a.m. when the morning announcements begin.

Dismissal Reminders

Please plan to pick up your carpool and walker students before 3:15. Our students are dismissed at 3:00 and our walker area has been finishing before 3:10 on most days. If you arrive after 3:10, please come to the front office to sign your child out as a late pick up.


Please abide by the No Parking signs on the streets around our school and our neighboring schools. Several parents have received parking tickets from HPD in the past because they were parking in a No Parking zone. When cars park in No Parking zones, it is difficult for our busses and vans to turn into our bus lane.


We're asking for the parents of walkers that park their cars on the other side of Westerloch across from the school to NOT u-turn by the carpool lane entrance once they've picked up their child(ren) and are heading home.


We have seen many students and some parents walking across the street not using the crosswalks. This is extremely dangerous and we ask that all walkers and bike riders use the crosswalks. Westerloch Dr. and Parkway Plaza Dr. are very busy streets during morning arrival and dismissal. If you cross between parked cars, ongoing traffic cannot see you.


We are so happy to see so many of our students riding their bikes to school. Please remember that all students are required to wear a bicycle helmet when riding their bikes to and from school. We want to keep all of our Bobcats safe. Also, please send your bike riders with a bike lock to secure their bikes to the bike rack.

Absence Notification

If your child is absent from school, please make sure you send in a note explaining the absence date(s) and reason for the absence upon return to school. We will need this note even if you're at home quarantining or a Positive COVID-19 case. Please email your absence excuse note to the homeroom teacher and our registrar, Ms. Rosales at arosale3@houstonisd.org


If a note is not received within 3 days, then the absence is recorded as unexcused.

Pets at Bush

Safety continues to be our top priority, and while we love our furry visitors, we ask that you keep them at home during arrival and dismissal. We have several students, faculty and staff members who are allergic to dogs and cats and students who are very afraid of dogs. Please keep them at home.

Early Pick Ups

Please do not plan to pick up your child after 2:30 p.m. from the office. To ensure a safe dismissal, students will not be called to the office to be picked up after 2:30 p.m. Thank you for helping to make dismissal safe for all our students.

Spectacular Science!

The Spectacular Science Words for the week of April 11 is pollination.

Bobcat Birthdays!

Ms. Rose would like to wish a very special birthday to:


Roxanne N. who turned 6 yrs. old on April 4, and is a kindergartner in Ms. Castaneda's class.

Olutomi A. who turned 8 yrs. old on April 10, an is a second grader in Ms. McCleary's class.

Miya E. who turned 8 yrs. old on April 11, and is a second grader in Ms. McCleary's class.

Charlie S. who turned 7 yrs. old on April 11, and is a first grader in Ms. Brown's class.

Samantha A. who turned 11 yrs. old on April 12, and is a fifth grader in Ms. Hillman's class.

Matthew Y. who turns 7 yrs. old on April 15, and is a first grader in Ms. Baldwin's class.

Daniela G. who turns 9 yrs. old on April 16, and is a third grader in Ms. Baber's class.

David S. who turned 8 yrs. old on April 10, and is a second grader in Ms. Brown's class.



Happy Birthday and Welcome to the Bush Birthday Book Club!

Birthday Book Club

Help your child celebrate their birthday and support the library and other programs that enhance the educational experience of Bush students by joining the Birthday Book Club.

Your child will be given a personal "Happy Birthday" greeting during the morning announcements and Paw Prints shout out from Ms. Rose! The donation will be recognized with a nameplate in a new book from the library. A group photo of all the other BBC members with the same birth month will also be displayed in the library display case.


It only costs $20 for a Birthday Book Club Membership (Add Electronic Marquee display for $10 more). Please visit www.BBEPTO.com for more details or to make your purchase.


Enrollment Schedule:

February – July Birthdays: Enroll through January

Resources and Community News

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Children's Business Fair

Observe the opportunity for children to launch their very own startup business! Join us at Memorial City Mall on April 30th, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., to see these young entrepreneurs in action!

Kids develop a brand, create a product or service, build a marketing strategy, and then open for customers at our one-day marketplace.

All entries will be automatically entered in the business competition, and booths will be judged by fellow entrepreneurs on a variety of criteria, including most original business idea, highest business potential, and best presentation/creativity. Cash prizes of $50 per category and age group 6-7, 8-10, 11-12, and 13-14 (to be split among the business owners) will be presented at the conclusion of the fair.

This event is sponsored by Acton Academy, the Acton School of Business, Next Great Adventure, Lerner Realty Solutions (The LRS Team), RLD Bookkeeping & Tax Solutions, Amy Polak with Entre Results, and the generous support of our donors and volunteers. A special shout out to Lemonade Day Houston for their support too! We all believe that principled entrepreneurs are heroes and role models for the next generation.

Whether an entrepreneur is famous like Elon Musk, or Oprah Winfrey, or they are one of the thousands of unsung business owners across this country, these are the people who make sacrifices to innovate, create jobs and serve their communities.

***All program applications accepted and reviewed by April 22, 2022 will need to be accompanied by a $50 program entry fee per business. No refunds; no exceptions. A table and 1-2 chairs will be provided for each business. Weekly business coach Zoom calls and a session with Memorial City Mall's Visual Merchandising Expert will be available for program participants as well.***

INTERNATIONAL FESTIVAL BUSINESS PARTNERS

We are inviting local businesses to rebuild their clientele through our Business Partners program at our International Festival on May 7th. If you know of a local business who might like to hear about these opportunities, please have them contact donatetobush@gmail.com. Submit payment and information by April 8th, 2022 to get your logo on our International Festival t-shirts!

PTO NOMINATIONS

We are already looking ahead to next school year, and hopefully we will have a lot more “normal” looking events for the students and families! We are really in need of volunteers to help coordinate these events. Without volunteers, these events may not happen. If you are looking forward to next year as much as we are, then please volunteer with the PTO.


Fill out this interest form if you’d like to help with events and other aspects of PTO, and we will be in touch. We have many leadership positions as well as supporting roles which require less time commitment. Duties and tasks can be completed when it fits into YOUR schedule. Depending on the role, some tasks can be completed on your own time at home. If you are not sure what you would be interested in helping with, but you know you want to be involved, we still encourage you to fill out this form by 4/15.


Email our PTO President at presidentbbepto@gmail.com with any questions.

30 FOR 30 FUNDRAISER

Help us celebrate 30 excellent years at Barbara Bush Elementary with our $30 for 30 years fundraiser! As in previous years, we wish to save our Bush families the time and energy it takes to participate in traditional fundraising activities (such as school bake sales, gift wrapping sales etc.) by focusing our fundraising efforts on events that benefit the school directly. Our $30 for 30 years fundraiser this spring will benefit many projects the PTO organizes for the school. Each $30 donation will receive a school spirit prize!


We are hopeful that we can encourage EVERY family at Bush donate $30 for 30 years!

Let’s help our Bobcats “Work Hard. Be Kind. Dream Big!”

Donate on the website at www.BBEpto.com

GENERAL PTO MEETING and CONSTITUTION CHANGES

APRIL 21, 2022

9 am

Multipurpose room


We invite you to join us for our Spring PTO meeting. This meeting is open to all BBE Families! We will be discussing the international festival and our plans for the remainder of this year. We will also be looking ahead to next year. The PTO is also revising the BBE PTO Constitution and general PTO members will be able to vote in these new changes.

Take a look at the proposed constitution HERE.

Light refreshments will be served. Please enter the Multipurpose room via the entrance near the bus lane.

2022-2023 PTO NEEDS YOU!

Do you like events like Movie Night, BINGO, festivals, Bush Buddies Breakfast, and Book Fair? Unfortunately, next year the PTO may need to reduce the number of events we hold. We do not have enough people who have stepped up to help run these events. We also are in need of a treasurer (preferably 2!) for our Board.

WE HAVE A SHORTAGE OF PARENT VOLUNTEERS. Yes- that means we need your help. Yep- YOU.

Want to save these events AND others? Sign up here by 4/15.


Email our PTO President at presidentbbepto@gmail.com with any questions.

We are now on Instagram! Follow us for the latest updates @bbepto. And Don’t forget to sign up for our Weekly E-Blast! For any questions related to PTO please contact Val Shaikh, presidentbbepto@gmail.com

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Continued Focus on Safety 2022

Updated policies on field trips, COVID-19 Quarantine and more updated for 2022.


https://www.houstonisd.org/readysetgo